A pair of upcoming photo shoots of four-legged friends will no doubt bring smiles to the faces of all who turn out, but it's likely there'll also be a tinge of sadness in the air.
Planned to round up a plethora of furry faces to feature in the 2025 Dogs of White Rock calendar, the shoots – set for July 21 and 28 at White Rock Seniors Village – will be missing a key personality: Harold Zelt, the senior whose love of dogs inspired the calendar.
Zelt died in his sleep on April 30. He was 97.
"We were all devastated, " said Si Cussen, general manger of WRSV, where Zelt lived.
"We will continue the tradition in his memory as he would want us to. We hope to continue this tradition for years to come to honour Harold and all his love and devotion to our furry friends."
Zelt – described as "kind, generous, gentle and soft-spoken" – became a familiar figure to many through his passion for photographing dogs he met while out and about in White Rock on his scooter during the pandemic lockdown. He embarked on the hobby to stay active and boost morale, making a point of sharing his photos with fellow WRSV residents, as well as staff.
His first calendar was released in late 2020, and the project became a much anticipated endeavour; one that, fittingly, raised funds for BCSPCA. Since its launch, some $6,600 has been generated for the organization's education and adoption efforts in Surrey.
Zelt delivered proceeds from the sale of his 2024 calendar to BCSPCA officials on Feb. 2. It was the first edition that featured images captured during photo shoots at the 1183 Maple St. retirement residence, when Zelt's son, Mike, stepped up to handle the photography.
Mike Zelt – one of four siblings – will again be behind the lens this month, and Cussen said attendees will be invited to enter a draw that could land their pooch on the 2025 calendar's cover. WRSV residents will vote on 'Man's Best Friend Pooch of the Year' title, she said, and the winning image will be featured with the words "In Memory of Harold Zelt" underneath.
The photo-shoot events are set for noon till 2 p.m. on July 21 and July 28, at the front entrance of the retirement residence. 'Pup cups' (whip cream) will again be offered for canine companions, along with cold drinks for their two-legged friends.